CHAPTER VII.
NODDY AND THE SQUARE BOX.
"A light in the mill!" exclaimed Ned softly. "There must be somethingwrong. I never saw one there before. Mr. Judson has no night watchmaneither, unless he has gotten one in the last few days, which I doubt. Iwonder what's up?"
In spite of the rather disagreeableness of the task Ned resolved to keepwatch for a little while and see what developed.
He found a stone where he could sit down in the shadow and observeevents. For some time nothing happened. The little light glowedsteadily. Then it began to flicker and to move about.
Suddenly, off to the left, Ned heard a sound. It was just as if some onewas walking along and trying to avoid making a noise. Only the breakingof a little piece of wood now and then, or the rattle of a pebble,showed that some one was moving.
Ned crouched down behind the stone on which he had been sitting. Hepeered forward, straining his eyes in the uncertain light to catch theleast glimpse of who ever was approaching. He started as he saw a man,bending low so as to conceal as much of himself as possible, steal fromthe yard of the mill and take up his position on the other side of thestreet, about fifty feet from where Ned was concealed.
"I'm almost certain that was Bill Berry," whispered Ned. "I'm positivenow that something wrong is afoot. Bill isn't out on a night like thisfor any good. I wonder if I ought to run for help?"
For some time Ned kept watchful eyes in the direction Bill, or the manhe supposed was him, had gone. He could see him, crouched all in aheap, beside a stone, just as Ned himself was. And the man seemed to bekeeping a watch on the mill, exactly as Ned was doing.
"Maybe there are robbers in the mill now," argued Ned, "and Bill iskeeping guard. I've a good notion to go and see if I can't find apoliceman."
Once more Ned heard a movement in the direction of the mysteriouswatcher. He looked and saw the man straighten up and look cautiouslyabout him. Then he saw him steal across the street, go up to the doorof the mill office, and peer in.
"I wish I dared do that," thought Ned. "Then I'd know whether I'm makinga fool of myself, staying out like this when I ought to be in bed."
For more than a minute Bill Berry, for Ned could see plainly now thatthe man was the town bad character, stood and gazed into the milloffice. Then, apparently satisfied with what he had seen, Bill tip-toedaway and passed down the street and out of sight.
"Now it's my turn," whispered Ned, and he moved forward.
He looked up. The light was still glowing though faintly. Ned set hisfoot on the first wooden step. As if it had been a signal agreed uponthe light went out suddenly, and the office was in darkness.
"Queer!" exclaimed Ned. "I wonder if whoever is in there could haveheard me?"
A moment's reflection, however, showed him this could not have been thecase.
"Maybe they are watching and saw me," he argued. This made him feel alittle strange. To think that in the darkness, there might be evil eyeswatching his every movement was not a pleasant thought. He knew thathe could be seen from within the mill, though he himself could observenothing inside.
"Might as well look in, though, now I'm here," he said to himself.
So he boldly, but softly, went up the five steps, and, placing his handson either side of his face, to shut out the little light of the moonthat, now and then, straggled through the clouds, Ned peered anxiouslyinto the office. As he had feared he could distinguish nothing. It wasas black as the proverbial pocket.
Ned walked down the steps. As he did so he thought he heard, from withinthe mill, a sound, as if a door was slammed. He listened intently.
"I guess I must have fancied it," he said. "I must be getting nervous.That won't do. All the same I would like to have seen what Bill Berrydid when he looked in while the light was there."
With this thought in mind Ned moved off. The iron mill took up quite alarge space of ground, what would be termed a city block, and there werestreets on three sides of it, besides a road along the river, betweenthe stream and the mill. A high fence surrounded all but the frontof the mill, though there were gates in it at intervals to admit theworkmen and teams. To get to his home Ned had to go to the farthest endof the mill fence, and turn up a street there. He was walking toward thecorner, and was close to it, when he heard footsteps approaching.
He hesitated a moment. Then he reflected that he had as much right tobe where he was as any one. The footsteps came nearer and nearer. Then,as Ned proceeded he turned the corner, and came face to face with NoddyNixon!
Just then the moon, which had been hidden by a cloud, came out brightly.By its gleam Ned could distinguish the bully's features clearly. Theybore a look of mingled rage and fear.
"Hello, Noddy," said Ned, resolving in spite of all that had takenplace, to speak friendly. "Fine night, isn't it?"
"Look here!" burst out Noddy. "Are you spying on me? Can't I go to theriver to get some fish bait without having every young cub in Cresvilleat my heels?"
"I wasn't spying on you, as you call it," said Ned quietly, "and if youthink so the less I have to say to you the better off I'll be."
"I've a mind to knock your head off," spluttered Noddy. "Just mind yourown business or you'll get into trouble, and it will be a kind you won'tlike."
Ned did not deem the remarks worthy of an answer. He turned and washurrying past. As he did so he noticed that Noddy held tightly under onearm a small square box. It seemed to be made of wood. Catching Ned'sglance at what he carried, Noddy rapidly shifted the box until it washidden under his coat. Then, with angry mutterings, he hurried on.
"Rather a queer sort of box to use for his fish bait," thought Ned. "Iwonder what he was up to, any how? And I wonder what that light in themill meant? I've had quite a few adventures to-night. Guess I'd betterget home before I meet with any more."
So he walked rapidly on, and reached his house without further incident.He soon fell asleep, to dream of being shut up in a small square woodenbox with a big fish, while Noddy Nixon, on a motor-cycle, was riding offrapidly with the box under his arm.